August 6, 2018
2017 in Review: The Crusaders were 10-2, winning the Non-Public Group 4 title by beating St. Peter’s Prep after beating Delbarton and St. Augustine. They scored 414 points for a 34.5 average and allowed 270 for a 22.5 average. Wins included DePaul, St. Joe’s (Montvale), St. Peter’s Prep, Pope John, and Don Bosco, while their losses were to Mater Dei (Cal.) and Archbishop Wood (Pa.).
Graduation Losses: DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste – Ohio State, QB Johnny Langan – Boston College, WR Dylan Classi – Princeton, WR Isaiah Givens – Stony Brook, OL Zaakir Faith – American International, WR Michael Feaster – Muhlenberg, OL/DL Kevin Kenerson – Muhlenberg, C Sean Twomey – Johns Hopkins, DB Cade McDermott – Ithaca, DB Shayne Butler – Fork Union Mil. Acad. (Va.), P Ronnie Vergona – Sacred Heart, WR Anthony D’Adetta – John Carroll (Oh.), OL Brian Gentilello – Gettysburg, LB Nick Ruffalo – Gettysburg, QB Chris DiGiacomo – Gettysburg
Offense: Bergen Catholic runs a multiple spread and returns five starters and a few who played. The new quarterback will be junior Andrew Boel (5-11, 175). Returning at running back are seniors Josh McKenzie (5-11, 195) and Rahmir Johnson (5-10, 180) in both one and two-back sets.
Senior Tyler Devera (6-4, 228) returns at tight end, plus senior Aeneas DiCosmo (6-3, 225) will also see action and is a returning defensive starter. At wide receiver, senior Garrett Cody (6-3, 185) started six games a year ago and he will be joined by junior Pierson Tobia (6-2, 190), junior Amar Gist (6-0, 165), junior Rene Nunez (5-11, 170), and senior Jack McKee (5-9, 165).
The two starters back on the line are junior left tackle Bryan Felter (6-3, 305) and senior right guard JR Woods (6-2, 275). The center will be junior Matt D’Adetta (5-10, 245) and junior Collin Tunc (6-3, 290) will play left guard. Right tackle will be either sophomore Pat Colicchio (6-3, 260) or freshman Tyler Booker (6-4, 265). In reserve will be junior Gabe Mendez (6-0, 225) and sophomore Jack Syslo (6-1, 255).
Defense: The Crusaders will play multiple four-man fronts and return seven starters and a few who played. Three starters are back on the line, with DiCosmo at end, while seniors Marquis Morris (6-4, 300) and John High (6-0, 270) are back at the tackles. The opposite end is between juniors Jeremiah Grant (6-0, 245) and AJ Longo (6-1, 217), while sophomore Tywone Malone (6-5, 290) is going to rotate at tackle.
Two linebackers come back in senior Anthony Corbin (5-10, 205) on the weak side and junior Javon Cruz (5-10, 205) in the middle. Junior Jed DeNobile (6-0, 185) will man the strong side and he will be supported by junior Jack Manuelian (5-11, 208). Sophomores Eric Shin (6-0, 205) and Sebastian Sagar (6-2, 205) will also be in the running for playing time.
Returning in the secondary are junior cornerback Jordan Morant (6-1, 205) and senior Griffin McGovern (6-1, 190) at safety. The other cornerback will be freshman Jaedan Gould (6-1, 188) and junior Shane Prevot (5-11, 190) will be the safety next to McGovern. McKenzie will play safety in spots, while Nunez and sophomore Adrian Taffe (6-2, 180) will back up the corners.
Special Teams: Senior Michael Kearney returns as the kicker, but is holding off a challenge by freshman Giancarlo Carbonaro. Kearney will do the punting and the long snapper may be Vergona. Johnson, Gist, and Nunez will be the return men.
Schedule:
Friday, 8/31, at Grayson (Ga.), 5 PM
Saturday, 9/8, Archbishop Wood (Pa.) at Rutgers, 4 PM
Friday, 9/14, at St. Peter’s Prep 7 PM
Saturday, 9/22, Don Bosco at home, 1 PM
Saturday, 9/29, Irvington at home, 1 PM
Saturday, 10/6, at St. Joe’s (Montvale), 2:30 PM
Saturday, 10/13, Pope John at home, 1 PM
Saturday, 10/20, Paramus Catholic at home, 1 PM
Friday, 10/26, at DePaul, 7 PM
Recruits: Johnson committed to Nebraska and DiCosmo has narrowed it down to Michigan, Stanford, and Notre Dame. McKenzie is down to Rutgers, Syracuse, Princeton, Harvard, and Yale. Devera has fifteen offers, including Central Florida and Memphis. Cody has offers from Air Force, Fordham, Stony Brook, and Lafayette. Morris is a likely 1-AA player, but has an offer from Air Force and Corbin has offers from Navy, plus Ivy and Patriot League schools. McGovern has an offer from Stetson and interest from Holy Cross and Bryant. Woods and High are Patriot, Ivy, or NESCAC.
Among juniors, Morant has thirty offers and Felter has offers from Rutgers and Western Michigan, with the list sure to grow. Gist recently received an offer from Marshall.
Concerns: Complacency and being ready to play every day.
Comments: “There is a tremendous opportunity and this is a phenomenal group of kids to coach. There is a lot of energy and the excitement is high. We know the expectations and we will work every day to surpass them.” – Head Coach Vito Campanile